Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week - No. 6

Bonnema and Dixson recognized

April 24, 2013

By Chad Waller, Director of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Katie Bonnema of Dordt (Iowa) has been named NAIA National Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week and Gabriella Dixson has been tabbed as the National Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Bonnema and Dixson were selected based on their performances from April 15 – 21.

Bonnema, a junior from Ireton, Iowa, posted a championship-qualifying time in the 400-meters at the Doane (Neb.) Relays April 20. Her clocking of 56.05 was good for first at the event and set a new Doane Relays record. That mark is currently fifth on the NAIA season list. Bonnema (photo, top right, courtesy of Mike Brynes) also ran a :56 split while anchoring the 4x400-meter relay team to a second-place time of 3:58.24.

Dixson, a senior from Battle Ground, Wash., defeated numerous NCAA Division I athletes in the shot put at the Long Beach State (Calif.) Invitational April 20. She finished first overall among 65 other throwers with a heave of 15.31 meters (50-2 ¾). The addition bettered Dixson's previous season best of 49-7 3/4 and sets her apart as the lone NAIA thrower over 50 feet in the discipline. She stands No. 1 in that event in the NAIA. The next closest NAIA competitor trails her mark by over 15 inches. Dixson also was third at the Mt. SAC (Calif.) Relays April 19 with a toss of 15.30 (50-2 ½).

The final women’s outdoor track and field Athlete of the Week will be announced May 1. For the complete Athlete of the Week calendar, click here.